Index tab



May 20, 1952 L. E. AUCKLEY 2,597,426

INDEX TAB Filed Jan- 2, 1947 2 SHEETS- SHEET l May 20,. 1952 l.. E. AUcKLl-:Y 2,597,426

INDEX TAB Filed Jan. 2, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented May 20, 1952 UN IT E D S TAT E S:` PAT E NT O-FFlC El INDEX TAB Lee E. Auckley, Milwaukee; Wis;` Application'January 2, 1941,".S`erialNo. 719,708-

(Cl. A40"-23) 6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to-ling systems and has more particular reference to index tabs used on'. le guides or. any type of atle. cards or. sheets for signalling or identification purposes.

None: of the index tab devices heretofore devised has satisfied the long felt need for a satisfactory tickler or follow-up file tab.

It- Wasfformerly a common business practice to. placeone copy of. an order, letter,.or other record. man-alphabetical le and to file another in a. tickler iileby follow-up date so that the record. could be brought to the attention of the proper personV onaspecified future date.

Since: this. necessitated makingv and handling.

twocopiesl of each record and maintainingA two.

setsof'- files,A a single file follow-up system Wassubsequently devised. The records were keptin folders arranged in alphabetical order according. to firm names, and each folder was equipped with asignal device or tabV cooperable with a date scale printed on the folder to indicate the desired. follow-up date on which the record was next. to be consulted; This system thus combined the previously used separate alphabetical .andl tickler. files into one.

The signals or tabs previously employed usually took the form of folded celluloid or metalv signal clipsslidably received on the upper edges. of one cover of. the folders. An aperture in the front face of the clip framed one of the date scale numbers on.said cover to disclose the follow-upv date.

Thusthe positions of the various .tabs tow-ard therightorleft side of thefile was intended. to give at a glance an approximate indication ofthe follow-up dates of records kept in the folders.

Despite the fact that some indicationof .the approxi-matefollow-up dates Was afforded by these past' types of indextabs, it was still necessary to pull up individual folders to render their date scalesvisible above the top edges of adjacent folders` in order to determine the precise dates for`which they were tabbed. In other Words, there hasnever been a practical index. tab for the purposeV described by which ther exact followup date Was readily visible and changeable Without-'detachment of the tab from the folder` Another objection to existing types of tabs wasv thatv their adjust'ability was attained at the expense of'security of attachment and the tabs werev frequently accidentally knocked off the folders to whichthey were attached, or otherwise displaced, sof-thatmuchof'the time saved by the use of indexitabsfwas lost in seeking stray` tabs and the'` folders from.; which; they had become'- detached..

Ontheotherhand, tabs which effectively resisted'.

accidental displacement were expensive and diil.- cult to adjust..

By. contrast', itis an object of this. invention,V to provideaereadilyl adjustable indextab which. Willremain securely in .place and which presents.

azdated" nagging. signal. above the. edge. of the sheet. or. folder..to..which. it is. attachedV so that itfwill be readily visible at all times:V

Another object of this invention resides inthe provision of aling tab for tickler or follow-up files. havinga. readily. adjustable. date signaling devicethereon. to. givev immediate and' positive visual. indication ofthe follow-up date on which the fle. isA to .be consulted'.

Itis another object of this invention to provide an .index tab for use onthe folders of Vtickler filesvv which Vtabsat allvtiines present' readily adjustable.

and .interchangeable dated' signals to view above the edges off folders in the fle,.the dates on which are adaptedto correspond with .dates on the date scales/of' the folders to which they are' attached;l

toindicat'e at a glance byv theirV position to the le'ftl or right. in the file drawer. the approximate order in which the contents ofthe: folders in the.

iiledrawer are to be consulted..

Still another object of' this invention resides" inthe provision of an index tab of the characterY describedwitha readily adjustable datei signaling vdevice anda pocket into which a name tag' orcardfV may bereadily Hinserted and held, alongt with said signaling means, completelyexpose'd 'to view. above. the edges. of surrounding le folders or sheets.

With the above4 and other. objects in viewmvhielrv will` appear. as the. description. proceeds, this invention resides intlienovel construction, combination and"arrangement of .parts substantiallyk as. hereinafter` described and moreV particularlyl definedpbythe appended'claims, it being underrstood that' such changes in the precise embodimentofv the hereindisclosed invention. maybe madey as come Within the scope of the claims;

The accompanying drawings illustrate. several complete' examples ofi the physical embodiment section, of an. embodiment of theindex. tabof. this.

inventiong Figure 3 is a side view of the embodiment shown in Figure 2;

Figure 3aA is a side view of a slightly modified version of the tab shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the embodiment of the index tab shown in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of the index tab of this invention;

Figure 6 is a partial explodedview showing a modification of the Figure 2 embodiment; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a portion of a spring showing a further modification of the embodiment depicted in Figure 6.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 4 represents generally an index tab fabricated in accordance with the principles of this invention and suitable for attachment to the date numbered edge of a le folder 5 or the like. This tab comprises essentially a clamp portion 6 and a signal portion 'I.

The clamp portion of the tab is made up of a front clamp member 8, a rear clamp member 9, a pintle I hingedly connecting the clamp members medially of their ends and an expansion spring II. Both the front clamp member 8 and the rear clamp member 9 are preferably formed as one piece stampings of light sheet material, such as steel.

The portions I2 of the clamp members beneath the pintle engage substantially ilatwise with one another and constitute cooperating jaws capable of gripping an edge portion of a fiat sheet or le folder interposed between them under the tension of the spring I I.

Two or more inwardly directed spurs I 3 project from the lower edge of one of the jaws and are adapted to bite into one side of the sheet to which the clamp is secured, so as to insure a tight grip on the sheet by which the clamp resists accidental displacement. The other jaw may be provided with like spurs, or it may be provided with wells or apertures I4 aligned with the spurs I3 on its opposite member. The provision of both spurs and wells in this manner will cause the clamp to form a dimple in a relatively thin sheet to which it may be attached, thus compensating for the fact that the clamp would otherwise be less securely attached to such a sheet because of the lesser spring tension available to hold it thereon.

Again, by providing spurs and wells in this manner the tab of this invention may be used with a guide sheet or folder having a row of spaced apart perforations inwardly on its margin, so that the spurs, cooperating with these perforations, will serve to locate the tab at any one of a number of exactly predetermined positions along the edge of the sheet and will securely hold it there.

One of the jaw members is also provided near its top with a pair of inwardly struck lugs 48, while the other jaw has mating apertures 4I in which the lugs are received. These lugs serve as stops, adapted to abut the edge of a sheet on which the index tab is installed to prevent placement of the tab too low on the sheet so that the lower part of the signal portion 'I will not be obscured by the upper edge of files in front of the tabbed sheet.

The jaw portion I2 of the front clamp member 8 has a suitably located aperture 42 therein of a size and shape to disclose and frame one of a series of numbers 43, corresponding to dates. which may be prlntedalong the marginal edge of one of the covers of a file folder 5 to which the index tab is to be secured. In the present case the date scale is shown on the rear cover of the folder and the tab of this invention is correspondingly clamped over the numbered edge of the rear cover of the folder. The numbers on all the folders start with the numeral I at the left and run consecutively to the numeral 3I at the right. Also, the front cover of the folders is understood to be shorter than the back cover so that the date scale shows on the folders despite their closed conditions.

The upper portions I5 and I5 of the front and rear clamp members, respectively, form, in effect, a handle or tab for the clamp. If desired, the rear handle may be reinforced against transverse bending by means of vertical ribs 20 stamped therein.

Ears I6 extend inwardly from either side of the handle of each clamp member, at right angles to the body of the handle, to form hinge members for the clamp. The ears I6 are so spaced that those on one clamp member overlap those on the other. Aligned holes I1 in the ears accommodate the pintle I0 which serves as a medial hinge pin for the clamp.

`Oifsets I8 and I8 in the front and rear clamp members 8 and 9, respectively, serve to space the handles of the clamp outwardly of the jaws I2 thereof, so that the handles may be brought together to effect spreading of the jaws of the clamp.

The spring II has a U-shaped cross section, and is disposed between the handles with the base of the U resting on the offsets I8 and I8', and the legs of the U straddling the pintle I0 and in engagement with the inner surface of the handles to bias them outwardly and thus effect converging clamping bias of the jaws I2.

It will be seen that the spring I I is retained in position by the offsets I8 and I8', the inner surfaces of the handles I5 and I5' and the pintle I0 and is restrained against transverse displacement in a direction parallel to the pintle by the fact that its width is substantially equal to the transverse distance between the innermost ears I6, against which its ends abut.

In the embodiment of the index tab of this invention shown in Figure 6, the pintle I0 has been eliminated, and the spring II formed with an integral trunnion extension ID at each end thereof, near the base of the U. These trunnion extensions I0 may be bent to a channel-shape, as shown in Figure 6, or to a triangular cross section, as shown in Figure 7.

In either event the trunnion extensions engage in the holes I 'I of the ears I6 to serve as hinge pins. It will be readily apparent that the ears I6 not only hold this form of spring from becoming detached from the clamp but also serve to prevent transverse displacement of the spring.

The signal portion 'I of the tab of this invention comprises essentially a cover-like retaining member 22 and a pair of signal discs 23 and 23'. The retaining member is preferably fabricated as a unitary stamping from sheet material of the same kind as that from which the clamp members are made.

Parallel fianges 24 and 24' at the top and bottom of the retaining member, respectively, project rearwardly and toward one another to cooperate with a forwardly bent flange 25 on the upper edge of the front clamp member 8 and the offset I8' therein to hold the retainingy member in place on the handle portion of the front clamp ItfW-ilbbeseen that vtheretaining memberV may.'V

beereadil'y installed: on thefront clamp: member' Swby-fengagingf theiangesv 241 andi 24? with` the upperI-ila'nge 25V off thefront'` handle Ifandi theoiset` I8 thereof andsliding-"theretainingmem.-VK berl lparallelto, theL hinge axis. The retainingmembermay` be `quickly removedfrom theclamp y byvslidingitfin the-opposite direction.

A' pair Aof` trunnions f orbearings 2S; struck out-- WardlyA from the handle por-tion- I 5! of? the front clamp member 8g ser-ve to -journal thesignal4 discs- 23-l and= 23f which have holes 2 'II` at their centers to-receiveA these trunnions. The tr-unnionsI are z lcoatedalong al lineiparallelto the-hinge axisof theclamp,rv andY theiraxesA areV` transverse tothe: surface:-olf'thehandle I5 from which they are strucln Thesignalldiscsf and 23 are preferablymade offplastic, colored if desired, and maylbe formed with amilled orv serrated edge to facilitate rotational'v adjustment of them. Aseries-of numbersis delineated-on oneface of each disc, although other' appropriate indicia maybe used if desired.

The discs` are journalledf on the trunnions 261 with their-rear surfaces adjacent .to the outer-surface lof `thetab I5; Sincethe trunnions project forwardly beyond the front face ofthe discs,- the retainingf'memberfor the discs is provided with a channell shapedy ridge or recess 29 extending thereacross'to accommodate the trunnions. The retaining member 22'V not only' holds thev discsl against'forwarddisplacement off their trunnicns` butfissoconnectedwith the front handle memberfbyitsangesfas tobedravvn against the discs andthereby createsuicient friction betweenv thev surfaces of the discsandl the metal surfaces l betweenwhich" they areconned as toprevent ac-V cidentalrotational displacement offthediscs fromA the 'positions to Avvhi zlrthey are adjusted.

A- Windowor aperture 3B in the retainingmem-V berexposes the'adjacent edgesV ofv thediscs, 'and anyonecr-two'vdigit number may'bemade visibleA through the-aper-ture-Sby rotating the` discsto bringthe; appropriate number' oneach ofthem into register with theaperture.

Af-cutout- BI at eachside edgeV of the handle portion I5ofy the clampeand the retaining inem,- ber' ZZfeXposes the -milled peripheryl of; the discs adjacent thereto to -pro'vide convenient access to the discs for rotational adjustment. It' will be understood, of course,- that when numbersare de linea-ted oniy thev discs" the discs will have to be provided in matched pairs so that the numerals on each discr'will-be right-side-up as they are broughtl intovregister with the aperture 3i?.

The lower portion of the retaining member-22 cooperates. with` the handlev portion. l 5 to provide a pocket 32` adaptedto' hold an index label 33. An inwardly bent ridge 34, extending transversely across theretaining member and contacting the outer. surface of the handle or tabi deiinesI the top: off the: pocket, and. theV flange 25,' at the bottomaofltheretaining. member provides theY bottom offthefpocket A dimple orV rib 35, stamped outwardlyrfrom thelefthand side of thevtabA IEand contacting the underside. of the retaining-member denes oneend ofthe pocket, and asimilar dimple or 'rib 3d;v stamped inwardly. from the surfaceV of the retaining member 22- andv contacting the front of the handle-portion I5 serves to define the opposite e end o ,f`the card pocket. The ribs 35 and 3S cooperate'with each other and with the flange 2li` and ridge v318 to prevent-accidental displacement-ofi acardin the-pocket. The faceofan'indexzcard 331he1d in the card pocket soformed: isvisible through an aperture S'I- in the retaining. member.l

When using signal discs colored in-accordance with a predetermined color code, it is` sometimes necessary to change from one set of colors.to.an. other. In this event, the retaining member is'l rst slid ilatwise to the rightv off'the front tab.` It. will be noted that the retaining'member'described' aboveis removableonly when slid in one direction, from left to right in the case of the structure illustrated, since the ribs or dimplesE-and 35 will otherwise interengage and preventwithdrawal of the retaining member. Nextthe-signall agairrslid` into place onthe tabltohold thediscs ontheir; trunnions,

To.i change index` cards, it is. onlyf necessary: to' slidethe retaining. member to the right a.. little less than half-way ci: the tabto enable the indexl cardiin the pocket tonbeV slidfin one direction. or.

the other.v past the ribsordimplesv 35er 3G; A. new." card is: thenainserted; before-,sliding the -retainingA member back to its .operative position. Thuspit Willibe noted,l substitution oifindexcards` isiaccomplishedwithout danger ofthe signalfdiscsr becoming. detached from; their trunnions.

Tio: secure: the; tabA to; the proper le f older. or guide; sheety it: is necessary: only` to. squeeze tof. gethen the handle portions i F12-andi IE5 to i spread. the, clamp jaws4 to thus; enable: their application to;thesheet;v Thel tab, may'thenrbamoved alongV the; edge of; the folder or sheet to: bring: the-pmperfollow-up date into registerfwiththe.apertmeg: and` When the handles Aare :released theclainp jaws will.; close ,and immediatelysecure thetabdnposie. tion.'` Thesignalzdiscs .are then.rotated.v to@ proper positions'z bringing; up; av numeral. in; the-4 aperture Sfidenticalwitlr, ythe date, over which; the tab: isipla-cedz oni the` folder.

Thus, itavvillbe; seen that the file tahnof: this invention provides at a; glanceanimmediate 1.ape proximate-date,signalgby virtue of: its-lateral position:;inthe le clraweiy:y While; the signal; discs afford` anr accurateI indication.r ofiV followfup date Whichzwilljibe atfall. timesvisibl'eito theefile clerk without requiring;him;to.move or separate.-the le-l-folderS-f. The: double-checkthus. providedis also of? greati value-in` the'V eventi4 the. index tabf vis accidentallyremoved.,or idisplacedfrom 4:its .proper le folder.

TheI indexicard: pocket: 4feature f permitsvlrecords tofbe med-alphabetically aswellfasaby. follow-up date, and provides anzinstantly; visible indexasig nal. f,

Tybee` mddiii'edfv embodiment. off the index `tab ofthis; invention: shown: in: Figure 3m isparticularly usefuliwhere the height l of the viile Ydrawerl places ailimitation' upon the;height# of theindextab whichV maybe used; Inthis modicationthe han,- dles I5 and I 5 are both bent at a backwardangle` Withrespectlto th'ejaws- I 2: 'Iliee-tabportion` thus requires somewhat lessheadroom and isznore readily visibl'ewhenused onffoldersfiedrin lower drawers, Wherelthe le clerk must lool: downward; as well asrearward'.

It will-alsobeeunderstoodthat'insome instances it may bedesirablet'o use only one, signal disc; or to: uselan -index-tab-lhaving Y nosignal discs but only an indexcard pocket, such as that shown in Figure 5. In either case the advantages of the readily movable clamp mechanism of this invention will be realized and the resulting index tab will provide for quick and convenient adjustment or replacement of whatever signal means are employed.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent that this invention provides a simple and inexpensive adjustable index tab which will enable a single file to be used both as an alphabetical and a. follow-up le and which will carry readily adjustable date signalling means above the level of the edges of surrounding file folders.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an index tab of the type having at jaws hingedly connected together for iiatwise swinging motion toward and from one another and adapted to receive the marginal edge of a sheet between them: a relatively nat extension on each jaw providing a handle thereon; spaced substantially parallel shoulders on one of said handles, one of said shoulders being provided by an offset adjacent to the hinge connection between the jaws by which the handles are disposed in spaced apart relationship when the jaws are closed thereby enabling the jaws to be spread apart by convergence of the handles; a retaining plate having a pair of substantially parallel flanges engaged over said shoulders to detachably connect the plate with the handle, detachment of the plate requiring relative motion between the plate and the handle in a direction parallel to the length of the anges; and cooperating means on the retaining plate and said handle for retaining a signal device on the tab between the plate and said handle with said signal device visible through an aperture in the plate.

2. The index tab f claim 1 further characterized by the fact that said retaining plate is provided with a ridge spaced from and substantially parallel to one of the iianges thereon, said ridge cooperating with said flange to define a pocket wherein a signaling card is adapted to be removably retained to be visible through another aperture in the retaining plate.

3. The index tab of claim 2 further characterized by the fact that said retaining plate is provided with an inwardly impressed rib at one side thereof and said handle is provided with an outwardly impressed rib at the opposite side thereof, said ribs having a depth suilicient to cooperate with one another in frictionally holding the retaining plate against detachment and in defining said card pocket.

4. The index tab of claim 1 further characterized by the provision of trunnions struck outwardly from the handle and adapted to rotatably journal signal discs, and by the provision of a recess in said retaining plate into which said trunnions project so that the discs are frictionally retained against rotational displacement between the retaining plate and the handle, a portion of each disc being visible through an aperture in the retaining plate.

5. In an index tab of the type adapted to be detachably clamped about the marginal edge of a substantially flat sheet and having signal means extending above the edge of said sheet: a pair of unitary clamp forming members, the lower portions of which comprise substantially flat jaws; hinge means above the lower portions of said clamp forming members and connecting the members to enable said jaws to atwise engage a sheet placed therebetween. the portions of the clamp members above the hinge means comprising a pair of handles; an offset on at least one of said clamp forming members whereby its handle portion is displaced outwardly with respect to its jaw portion and away from the other handle portion but substantially parallel thereto so that said handle portions will not materially interfere with access to files adjacent to that to which the index tab is clamped. said handle portions providing for spreading the jaws by converging motion against yielding outward bias; means located in the space between the handle portions of said clamp members and reacting against the same for yieldingly urging the jaws together toward atwise engagement; and means for holding a signaling device on the handle portion of said one clamp forming member, comprising a unitary retaining member having its upper and lower edges adapted to cooperate with the upper edge of said handle forming portion and with the offset thereon, respectively, to thus enable said retaining member to be removed from said clamp forming member by transverse sliding motion, said retaining member having apertures therein rendering the signal means visible.

6. In an index tab of the type having fiat jaws hingedly connected together for iiatwise swinging motion toward and from one another and adapted to receive the marginal edge of a sheet between them: a relatively flat extension on each jaw providing a handle thereon. one of said handles having an offset adjacent to the hinge connection between the jaws, by which the handles are disposed in spaced apart relationship when the jaws are closed over the marginal edge of a sheet between them; spaced shoulders on one of said handles, said shoulders being substantially parallel to one another and to the hinge axis; a retaining plate having substantially parallel flanges engaged over and cooperating with said shoulders to detachably connect the plate with the handle, detachment of the plate requiring relative motion between the plate and the handle in a direction parallel to said shoulders; cooperating means on the retaining plate and the handle having the shoulders thereon for retaining a signal device on the tab between the plate and said handle with the signal device visible through an aperture in the plate; and means connected with said handles for releasably holding the jaws closed over the marginal edge of a sheet between them.

LEE E. AUCKLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 447,736 Murch May 3. 1891 590,175 Trussell Sept. 14, 1897 840,168 Stevenson Jan. 1, 1907 943,720 Vick Dec. 21, 1909 952,419 Dahlund Mar. 15, 1910 1,133,388 Merrill Mar. 30, 1915 1,421,219 Harmon June 27, 1922 1,936,558 Meyers Nov. 21, 1933 1,946,561 Widerman Feb. 13, 1934 1,969,403 Hoge Aug. 7, 1934 1,983,878 Rand Dec. 11, 1934 2,068,466 Paul Jan. 1 9, 1937 

